1.4M views · Mar 3, 2014 · 53:56 · 4 HN recommenders · 5 mentions · discussed 2015–2023
The first part of Dmitry Vasyukov's four-part Russian documentary series about trappers and villagers living in the Siberian taiga. This episode follows spring life along the Yenisei, with hunting, fishing and subsistence in harsh surroundings.
Why Hacker News points people here: Recommended as the authentic original that many prefer over Werner Herzog's shortened re-cut.
“I like the original much better, I think of it as the authentic view”HN comment, 2023
“The original version is fantastic, and much more authentic.”
Original Russian version, more authentic than Herzog's re-cut.
Herzog's documentary is just a new cut of the original Russian documentary, adding Herzog's old hippie narrative. The original version is fantastic, and much more authentic. Available on YouTube, with subtitles, on the director's own channel: this video link link link
“I like the original much better, I think of it as the authentic view”
Authentic original four-part documentary preferred over Herzog's version.
Thank you. What Herzog did was re-edit and put his own narration on the original Russian Happy People, a 4-part documentary. I like the original much better, I think of it as the authentic view, while Herzog's version is the typical old German hippie looking at an alien world (and I love Herzog!). Still, I found it very interesting to see both versions. The original 4-part documentary, with English narration, is available on the original Russian director's YouTube channel: this video link link link
“There is a somewhat similar russian documentary about people leaving in the small settlements in Siberia”
Russian documentary about life in small Siberian settlements.
There is a somewhat similar russian documentary about people leaving in the small settlements in Siberia: Happy People this video
“If you enjoyed that, you might also enjoy Dmitry Vasyukov's”
Documentary about people living in the Siberian taiga.
If you enjoyed that, you might also enjoy Dmitry Vasyukov's "Happy People" documentary about the people living in the Siberian taiga. It's on youtube [1]. 1: this video
“you should try to view Vasyukov's original as well”
Vasyukov's original is worth viewing alongside Herzog's altered cut.
I watched this, and enjoyed it, but was later surprised to learn that Herzog had started with a completed documentary but made major changes to the narrative---for the worse! There are few scenes that he edited to tell a different story than they did in the original, seemingly with minimal concern for truth. It really hurt my image of Herzog. So I'd second the recommendation, but add that if you get a chance, you should try to view Vasyukov's original as well. Herzog's version might be a bit snappier, but I don't think it's actually better. The original is available in four parts on Youtube. Here's part one: this video
